Volume One, Chapter 47: The Fountain of Youth

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Liu Dongyue is injured!
Indeed!
Although Liu Dongyue had appeared invincible over these many days, defeating all the prodigies from various sects, he was still only human.
After so many days of battles and countless blows taken, and having been hit multiple times by the Qiankun Strike just yesterday, how could he not be injured?
That was the authentic Ninth-Rank warrior’s Qiankun Strike.
Even those at the Transcendence Realm wouldn’t dare to say they could withstand it unscathed.
Liu Dongyue suffered internal injuries, and they were no minor wounds.
With this development, wouldn’t the chances of the Heartless Valley’s victory increase greatly?
The Heartless Valley’s Heartless Fairy was already supremely powerful, and with Liu Dongyue injured, the battle tomorrow seemed all but decided in their favor.
Word spread like wildfire.
In no time, nearly every sect and wandering martial artist in Baiyun City knew the news.
“Liu Dongyue is injured?”
Several senior sect leaders grew anxious. They were ranked just after Heartless Valley; if Liu Dongyue was seriously hurt and Heartless Valley’s odds improved, then the Autumn Burial Blade would surely fall into Heartless Valley’s hands.
“Damn it!”
Inside an inn, a seasoned warrior from Divine Peak Mountain frowned deeply. He glanced at a disciple calmly sipping tea nearby and couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t you worried at all? The Autumn Burial Blade is about to slip into Heartless Valley’s possession. Do those women even know how to wield a blade? Your master sent you down the mountain, and soon you might lose your chance.”
Yet the young tea-drinking disciple showed not a hint of anxiety. He merely said, “Our Fang Beixian was never here for the Autumn Burial Blade. My master sent me down the mountain to train, to witness the world’s geniuses and to refine my swordsmanship. As for the Autumn Burial Blade, whether I get it or not doesn’t matter. Even if it’s lost, I’ll challenge Liu Dongyue myself to see who truly stands first beneath the Transcendence Realm.”
“Just like your stubborn master,” the senior from Divine Peak Mountain muttered helplessly.
“No, we can’t let Liu Dongyue lose just like that.” After some thought, the Divine Peak Mountain elder stepped out.
Meanwhile, the betting odds in Baiyun City's gambling houses shifted dramatically.
Liu Dongyue’s once steady 1:1 odds plummeted to 1:5.
In contrast, the Heartless Fairy’s odds rose to even money.
Those who had bet on Liu Dongyue winning now rushed to cash out, exchanging their bets for Heartless Fairy’s victory.
Very few were betting on Liu Dongyue today.

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“I bet on Liu Dongyue winning.”
At that moment, a man approached and laid down a thick stack of silver notes on the table.
The sheer amount drew everyone’s attention.
“One million taels!”
Seeing such a sum, everyone was stunned, whispering amongst themselves, wondering who this wealthy individual was to bet so heavily on Liu Dongyue.
Only members of great sects could afford such sums, yet this man looked unfamiliar.
“Friend, haven’t you heard? Liu Dongyue is seriously injured. Tomorrow’s battle is likely hopeless for him. You’re risking losing that entire million.” A well-meaning bystander warned.
But the man remained unfazed, resolute in his bet on Liu Dongyue’s victory.
Many mocked him as a fool, but the gambling house staff were delighted.
The more foolish bettors like this, the better.
Shortly after Li Hanzhou returned to the Eternal Life Temple, Shi Ming arrived with Sun Yaoxian.
“Greetings, Divine Physician!”
Li Hanzhou regarded the kindly elder before him, whose very presence radiated the aura of a saint. Even Li Hanzhou’s physiognomy skills revealed a halo of sacred light enveloping him.
This man must have performed many good deeds in his lifetime.
“Master Li.”
Sun Yaoxian greeted respectfully.
When Li Hanzhou saw Sun Yaoxian’s hands, he noticed only nine fingers. He had heard the story: in his youth, Sun Yaoxian had risked trying an ancient acupuncture method to save a patient, but it failed and the patient died. Wracked with guilt, Sun Yaoxian cut off one of his own fingers as a reminder.
Though the patient’s family did not blame him, knowing the illness was terminal and others had no cure, Sun Yaoxian blamed himself for using an unproven technique.
This act alone earned him respect.
“Master Li, who is the patient?”
Sun Yaoxian dropped formalities; healing came first.
“He is the patient.” Li Hanzhou pointed to Shi Ming.
Shi Ming was stunned.

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The patient?
Sun Yaoxian looked Shi Ming over carefully but saw no obvious symptoms.
“My disciple…” Li Hanzhou recounted what had happened to Shi Ming. He could not identify any problems himself, but no medicine seemed to work on Shi Ming, which puzzled him greatly. Hence, he sought the divine physician’s expertise, hoping for professional insight.
“Such a strange case?”
Sun Yaoxian’s interest was piqued. He began to take Shi Ming’s pulse.
After a moment, Sun Yaoxian released him, shaking his head in resignation. “This child has a congenital stone pulse. His absorption of any medicine is alarmingly low, and his cultivation progress will be slow. Pursuing the martial path, I fear, holds little hope for him.”
Hearing this, Li Hanzhou’s heart sank.
Shi Ming showed no expression, as though he had long accepted his bleak prospects in martial cultivation.
“Is there any way to change a congenital stone pulse?” Li Hanzhou persisted. This was not about his own ascension; he cared deeply for Shi Ming, who was young and hardworking. He could not bear to see him live an unremarkable life.
“Changing a congenital stone pulse is difficult.” Sun Yaoxian shook his head.
“Difficult?” Li Hanzhou raised an eyebrow. “Not impossible?”
“Hmm?”
Sun Yaoxian pondered briefly. “I can concoct a Heavenly Pulse Pill. Using it to break through the stone pulse might be hopeful. However, the ingredients are rare and precious, especially the water from the Fountain of Immortality. If you can acquire that, I can make the pill for you.”
“Fountain of Immortality?”
Li Hanzhou recalled reading about it in books.
“The Fountain of Immortality at the Tianxuan Academy?” His eyes lit up.
“Exactly.”
“But the treasures of Tianxuan Academy are not easy to obtain,” Sun Yaoxian sighed. “Strangely, my Azure Dragon Hundred Flames furnace mysteriously disappeared. I am still searching for a new pill furnace, so I can only help you after I find one.”
“Cough, as long as you’re willing to help me make it, I’ll handle getting the Fountain of Immortality,” Li Hanzhou said.
“Also… I happen to have a fine pill furnace here. If you’re interested, you can have it.” Li Hanzhou then produced a pure white pill furnace from his storage pouch.